Tips for Planning a Long-Distance Wedding

When the site of your wedding is far from home, or when you and your fiance can't plan the wedding together, your job becomes a little more complicated. You can't prepare for every eventuality, and you'll have to resolve to roll with the punches when things don't turn out exactly as you pictured them. Your best defense against problems with a long-distance wedding is plenty of planning, which might require the assistance of a friend or wedding planner. It might be more difficult than planning a wedding at home, but here are a few tips for planning a long-distance wedding.

Start with the Date
The most important thing to have in mind is the date for your long-distance wedding. This will make everything else much easier to plan, and will give you some peace of mind since you know exactly when your wedding will take place. Not only that, but if your fiance is in the military or is otherwise indisposed, it will give him or her a chance to plan on a date, which will make attendance much easier. Once you have the date, you'll need to choose between three or four locations after visiting them all, so get ready to take a road trip.

Check Residency Requirements
Even if you are still getting married in the United States, but are planning a long-distance wedding, you'll have to take into consideration residency requirements. Many states and other countries require that you be in the area for a set number of days (one to seven) before you are able to get your marriage license. If this is the case, you'll need to arrive early and finish your wedding plans there. Remember that this only means that you and your fiance must be in that city or state; the rest of your guests can arrive later.

Plan Travel Carefully
Long-distance weddings require more planning and they will also require you to travel. When you plan a visit to the wedding site, try to take care of as many things at once as possible. For example, if you're going to pick up the wedding dress, try to get the bridesmaid's dresses at the same time rather than taking another trip. This will keep things running smoothly and will help you to stay calm about the whole event.